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Apps Please Name Your Top 3 Most Useful Watch Apps

slomojoe

slomojoe

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 10, 2018
178
132
Canada
i am listing things that i think a watch would be useful for in my life
so far i am not getting close enough to justify a buy ... but who wouldn't like a new gizmo ?

i would love to hear the top 3 apps that have made your watch purchase worthwhile
 
In terms of apps for me it’s >

Workoutdoors.
Strong.
Sofascore.


And of the baked in apps / functions it’s >
Wallet.
Reminders*
Timer.


*Really looking forward to the new release of this, i use reminders extensively not really as reminders but more as long term data store so I have race PBs and pace info on hand.

I have separate lists for parkrun, 10k, 10mile, half, marathon, trail, ultra, track etc...and each list contains PB time and pace of each event I’ve ever ran...and the parkrun list includes a count of each parkrun plus at the top level an overall count, so I know when I’m about to hit any milestones (I’m on 180 parkruns across 11 venues at the moment).
And then I manually sort each list so in my 10k list for example I’ve got the sixteen separate 10k races I’ve ran (most of which I’ve done multiple times), listed with my actual 10k PB course top of the list, and then gradually dropping down through the slower ones.

So if I go into a race on good form and a course best is possible, part of my pre race routine is to look in reminders for my previous best at that event, grab the pace, and enter that as a target pace in Workoutdoors...all whilst my phone is back in the car out of range.
 
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Activity/Health
Workoutdoors
Philips Hue

I also use Fitivie Pulse for training where I want to use my iPhone to see live update of Heart-rate and it is not a bad app (actually it is a very good app), but I hate to pay subscription for it, just to have a workout app with this feature.
 
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1. Workout
2. Darksky
3. Apple Pay

I track nearly all my workouts using the built in app. I do use Paddle Logger for my kayaking and paddleboard workouts, I prefer the metrics from Paddle Logger.
Darksky has been very accurate for my weather needs for quite a long time, I "bought" the app when it was free a few years ago.
Apple Pay is my go to payment method when I am shopping, so quick to just double tap the button.
 
Walkmeter - tracking hikes & bike rides - favorite app
Text - great for answering a text
GPS - in addtion to iPhone - vibrates ahead of turns
Wallet - plane boarding pass etc

Like being able to have several different custom screens set up - ie default with weather at a glance / and email

Also good for keeping track of what time it is ;)
 
Third party apps:
Audible (listen to books while walking and in the pool)
AnyList (grocery list)
SleepWatch (sleep tracking)

Apple functions:
Calendar (can't function without these reminders about appointments)
Workout (has changed my life)
Timer (use it all the time, for cooking, as a focusing device and so much more)

Wallet (coffee in the drive through) and Maps (love the turn signal on my wrist function)

For me, the connectivity is really central. I love that I can answer a text or take a phone call and that an emergency call is as close as my wrist (I have the cellular model).
 
No one has said "walkie-talkie"?

emoji-s.png
 
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1) Workout - for tracking walks, runs, stairs, yardwork, etc...
2) Timer - mostly for cooking and brewing beer
3) Not an app, but just Notifications in general; I like to be able to take quick glances at text messages and emails to know whether or not I need my phone

I primarily still use my phone for Apple Pay, but I'd imagine if I had an LTE watch, I would try to utilize that more
The flashlight and theater mode are pretty cool features.
Accepting phone calls through the watch is pretty cool too. (only done it a couple times, and my phone was near me but less accessible, but it was pretty darn neat)
 
Third Party:
1. WorkOutDoors
2. Overcast
3. Autosleep
Bonus: Omnifocus

Apple:
1. Wallet/ApplePay
2. Music
3. Workout
I'm going to leave Phone and Messages off this list...easily the most used baked-in apps, but sort of a given.
 
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artfossil said:
Third party apps:
Audible (listen to books while walking and in the pool)
AnyList (grocery list)
SleepWatch (sleep tracking)

Apple functions:
Calendar (can't function without these reminders about appointments)
Workout (has changed my life)
Timer (use it all the time, for cooking, as a focusing device and so much more)

Wallet (coffee in the drive through) and Maps (love the turn signal on my wrist function)

For me, the connectivity is really central. I love that I can answer a text or take a phone call and that an emergency call is as close as my wrist (I have the cellular model).
Click to expand...

I use Timer MUCH more often than I expected to...even though I’ve had Garmins etc in the past with timers on and never used them.

Stick the washing in...hold down a button (I have regular and raise for Siri disabled), and say, “start a 2h15min timer” and then I get a reminder to come and empty the washing whereas normally I’d forget and just leave it there for hours after it’s finished....plus all the convenience when cooking and need to put various things in the oven at the right time, I just run a timer to countdown to reminding me when I need to do the next step.
 
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Third party:
  • WorkOutDoors
  • Carrot Weather
  • OTP Auth
Apple apps:
  • Activity
  • Timer
  • Messages
I just wished Timer would allow multiple simultaneous timers to be set. I haven’t found a third party timer app I like, and I want the Siri integration.
 
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user1234 said:
Third party:
  • WorkOutDoors
  • Carrot Weather
  • OTP Auth
Apple apps:
  • Activity
  • Timer
  • Messages
I just wished Timer would allow multiple simultaneous timers to be set. I haven’t found a third party timer app I like, and I want the Siri integration.
Click to expand...

While it isn't exactly the same, you can set one timer & multiple alarms (Hey Siri, set Alarm for 45 minutes). The alarms don't count down like the timer does, but it will still alert you when time is up.
 
Third-party
  • iSmoothRun (never let me down recording runs, although hearing good things about WorkOutDoors)
  • Audible (even if it's a bit flaky)
  • DarkSky (also flaky)
Built-in
  • Apple Pay
  • Music
  • Notifications
 
Third party:
  • Pinnacle (rock climbing tracker)
  • Dark Sky (weather)
  • OurGroceries (shopping list)

Built in:
  • Timer
  • Reminders
  • Messages
 
Third Party:
Lyd for Sonos (controlling Sonos from watch)
Zero (for starting/ending/monitoring fasts)

Built in:
Mail (love being able to quickly monitor work email)
Messages
Weather
 
It depends on the day, but I often use it for a clock, timer, notifier, and I have a love/hate relationship with the stupid rings.

When I'm using GPS, the buzz is very helpful, and I can happily leave my phone in my pocket and don't have to take it out until I need it. I use either music or podcasts depending on what my current tasks are.

I check the temps prior to exiting a building.

I might've gone over 3.
 
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Gymantic and Chirp are the only non in-house apps i use on the watch. everything else i use what apple already preinstalled
 
3rd party apps:
Carrot Weather
Chevy OnStar (for remote car start & lock/unlock)
1Password
Google Keep

Built-in apps:
Workout
Wallet/Apple Pay
iMessage

3rd party complications:
Carrot Weather
Duffy (shows # of steps on Infograph top center)
Watch The Time (shows date + time in 24hr format)

IMG_0838.PNG
 
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Otto Pilot said:
Does the OnStar watch stuff work without an OnStar subscription? Would be nice to remote lock/start my Volt from the watch.
Click to expand...
I have a Volt as well. 2017. Love mine. Still getting between 55-60 miles on a charge. Haven't been to a gas station in 4 months.
Unfortunately it requires a subscription, but I think even the lowest package gives you the remote start.
 
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xraydoc said:
I have a Volt as well. 2017. Love mine. Still getting between 55-60 miles on a charge. Haven't been to a gas station in 4 months.
Unfortunately it requires a subscription, but I think even the lowest package gives you the remote start.
Click to expand...
Yes - I have the free basic plan (5 year term), and all six icons on the watch, remote start/stop, lock/unlock, start/stop horn all work.
 
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Glad I just installed to test...at least the remote lock seems to work without a subscription! And MUCH faster than from the app for some reason. Nice!!
I have a 2016 and 55-60 here too. My last fill was 3226 miles on the tank, for 485 MPG. I'll allow it:)
 
Yep I have the My Chevrolet App for my 2015 Chevy SS and it's pretty nice. I used it to auto start this morning.

I'm wanting a Tesla app for my Model 3, but not sure yet which to go with. Will be nice to do everything via the watch vs. the phone app.
 
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